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The 7 Stages of Grief and Love
Combine one ferociously loving best friend, five questionable relationships, and seven stages of grief... and you just might get a love story.
What happens when it feels like your life is falling apart? What happens when your grief feels like something you can't survive? Unfortunately for Maggie, she's learning the answers to these questions in real time.
At the age of twenty, she expected to be going to college parties, planning her post grad life with her best friend, Rosa, and maybe even spending some time falling in love. What she didn't expect was to watch her life crumble around her in the aftermath of her mom's death. Every step she takes seems to be in the wrong direction as her life descends into further chaos.
As Maggie navigates the 7 stages of grief, she becomes entangled in one situationship after another with men who eerily mirror the stage of grief she currently finds herself in. There's only one man who seems to persist. Kam has been one of Maggie's best friends since they were teenagers and they've both spent years stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that there is anything more between them. Their "friendship" has survived long distance, crappy dads, and jealous girlfriends, but can it survive Maggie's grief?
Come along with Maggie over the years she spends going through shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, reconstruction, and acceptance. After surviving all of that, will she still be able to fall in love again-with herself, with life, and maybe even with him?
What happens when it feels like your life is falling apart? What happens when your grief feels like something you can't survive? Unfortunately for Maggie, she's learning the answers to these questions in real time.
At the age of twenty, she expected to be going to college parties, planning her post grad life with her best friend, Rosa, and maybe even spending some time falling in love. What she didn't expect was to watch her life crumble around her in the aftermath of her mom's death. Every step she takes seems to be in the wrong direction as her life descends into further chaos.
As Maggie navigates the 7 stages of grief, she becomes entangled in one situationship after another with men who eerily mirror the stage of grief she currently finds herself in. There's only one man who seems to persist. Kam has been one of Maggie's best friends since they were teenagers and they've both spent years stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that there is anything more between them. Their "friendship" has survived long distance, crappy dads, and jealous girlfriends, but can it survive Maggie's grief?
Come along with Maggie over the years she spends going through shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, reconstruction, and acceptance. After surviving all of that, will she still be able to fall in love again-with herself, with life, and maybe even with him?
- GenresContemporary Romance
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2025
10 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 4, 2025
Review to come!!!
June 4, 2025
First of all, this being a debut novel is mind blowing! The writing, the story and the characters were all done so beautifully! I’m obsessed with Kam, Maggie and Rosa obviously!
The main thing I loved about this was how raw the writing is. It doesn’t gloss over things and make grief seem simple and polished. Grief is so messy and ugly and unpredictable and that’s exactly what this story was. The characters were so authentic, I didn’t feel like I was reading a book, it felt like I was having a conversation with my best friend. Which made me all the more in love with it.
I went through all the emotions with this one for sure. Happiness, sadness, anger and then relief! If you’ve been looking for a book to help you through your grief journey or even just a beautiful story of a girl finding herself and love after grief than this is the book for you! I will be recommending this to everyone FOR THE REST OF FOREVER!! ;)
The main thing I loved about this was how raw the writing is. It doesn’t gloss over things and make grief seem simple and polished. Grief is so messy and ugly and unpredictable and that’s exactly what this story was. The characters were so authentic, I didn’t feel like I was reading a book, it felt like I was having a conversation with my best friend. Which made me all the more in love with it.
I went through all the emotions with this one for sure. Happiness, sadness, anger and then relief! If you’ve been looking for a book to help you through your grief journey or even just a beautiful story of a girl finding herself and love after grief than this is the book for you! I will be recommending this to everyone FOR THE REST OF FOREVER!! ;)
June 19, 2025
What a debut! Filled the void finishing Emily Henry’s books left. Nicole created Maggie in a way that really made you feel every emotion and every frustration. I just wanted to hug her or give her some brutal honesty. We all know or are a Maggie in some way. Can’t wait to see what Nicole gives us next!
July 29, 2025
4.5⭐️ rounded up, because it deserves it🫶🏻
Wow. As I’m sitting here, trying to come up with words to describe my experience reading this book, it’s nearly impossible to put everything I want to say into one review. But I’m damn sure gonna try anyway😇
I felt *everything-*
~Laughter, when Maggie or Rosa made some kind of witty response or were just being themselves with each other.
~Sadness, over each stage, while Mags was dealing with her grief in her own ways, for knowing what it feels like to lose a family member to cancer, and then having to live despite it.
~Anger, at some of those men that had the audacity. If you’ve read it, you know😤. But also, a bit at Maggie. I wanted to reach inside the pages and yell at her to turn around from what ended up being some awful situations, but also totally understanding what she was going through and why she was making those decisions. I’d been there. Not because of a loss, but because of my own past and trauma. It just made me want to hug her just as much.
~Swooning, yes, I’m calling it that, for the MMC. Since the moment he came onto the page, I fell in love. I want a man like Kam. Everyone deserves love like that. Thank you, Nicole, for giving me my FIRST contemporary romance fav book boyfriend. He and Maggie are perfect together. The whole Acceptance stage, and the Epilogue🥹. Heart-meltinggggg😫🫠😍
~Repair, for all that I’ve felt and dealt with during my journey with depression and bad anxiety. I healed alongside Maggie, it felt like, for her entire journey. So many relatable moments, so many times where I wanted to give up, had no interest in doing anything but sleeping. But something always shows up in its own way and puts you back on your feet. Gives you your fire back. Your will for life.
I’m so proud of Maggie. So proud of everything she ended up facing and coming out at the end of the race, smiling. Yes, the grief will always still be there, but it’s what and how you choose to live your life, who you allow in it to better it and support and love you, and for you to love yourself.
I’m in awe, Nicole. Thank you. Like I’ve said a few times now in our chat on instagram, thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for Maggie, for Kam, for Rosa, for Colin, for therapy, and for your mom. Even though I don’t know you well, I’d like to think some of you is a part of Maggie, and I’d be honored to even know a piece of the puzzle that is your life.
Cherish every moment you have with the people you love. Go outside, get some sunshine. Take care of yourself.
✨Please go read this book. I know I didn’t really say that up top, but, please. Do it. You won’t regret it🫶🏻✨
Wow. As I’m sitting here, trying to come up with words to describe my experience reading this book, it’s nearly impossible to put everything I want to say into one review. But I’m damn sure gonna try anyway😇
I felt *everything-*
~Laughter, when Maggie or Rosa made some kind of witty response or were just being themselves with each other.
~Sadness, over each stage, while Mags was dealing with her grief in her own ways, for knowing what it feels like to lose a family member to cancer, and then having to live despite it.
~Anger, at some of those men that had the audacity. If you’ve read it, you know😤. But also, a bit at Maggie. I wanted to reach inside the pages and yell at her to turn around from what ended up being some awful situations, but also totally understanding what she was going through and why she was making those decisions. I’d been there. Not because of a loss, but because of my own past and trauma. It just made me want to hug her just as much.
~Swooning, yes, I’m calling it that, for the MMC. Since the moment he came onto the page, I fell in love. I want a man like Kam. Everyone deserves love like that. Thank you, Nicole, for giving me my FIRST contemporary romance fav book boyfriend. He and Maggie are perfect together. The whole Acceptance stage, and the Epilogue🥹. Heart-meltinggggg😫🫠😍
~Repair, for all that I’ve felt and dealt with during my journey with depression and bad anxiety. I healed alongside Maggie, it felt like, for her entire journey. So many relatable moments, so many times where I wanted to give up, had no interest in doing anything but sleeping. But something always shows up in its own way and puts you back on your feet. Gives you your fire back. Your will for life.
I’m so proud of Maggie. So proud of everything she ended up facing and coming out at the end of the race, smiling. Yes, the grief will always still be there, but it’s what and how you choose to live your life, who you allow in it to better it and support and love you, and for you to love yourself.
I’m in awe, Nicole. Thank you. Like I’ve said a few times now in our chat on instagram, thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for Maggie, for Kam, for Rosa, for Colin, for therapy, and for your mom. Even though I don’t know you well, I’d like to think some of you is a part of Maggie, and I’d be honored to even know a piece of the puzzle that is your life.
Cherish every moment you have with the people you love. Go outside, get some sunshine. Take care of yourself.
✨Please go read this book. I know I didn’t really say that up top, but, please. Do it. You won’t regret it🫶🏻✨
July 31, 2025
I don’t read a lot of romance books, but I love it when they’re smart and funny like this one. It definitely deserves the Emily Henry comparisons too 🫶🏼 I loved all the Mr. Wrongs along the way! Not total monsters, but relatable people with real character flaws.
July 30, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up
Review TK!
Review TK!
July 16, 2025
Oh. My. God.
Firstly, get yourself a box of tissues but also get ready to laugh and then seriously hate 99% of men.
I cannot express how emotional this book made me and I think I’m a pretty heartless reader. I may not have sobbed but I did tear up and I can’t remember the last book that had that effect. I’ve never personally experienced the same level of grief as the FMC (and know I don’t want to but ultimately might at some point in my life) but I related to her more than I thought I would.
I expected myself to not understand why she made the choices that she made but I almost always did and it definitely opened my eyes.
Nicole did amazing in labeling each new “boyfriend” as one of the stages of grief and I really enjoyed reading how some of them weren’t what they seemed.
You get a warning in the beginning that there are no chapters but more like sections that are broken up. They feel like long chapters, yes, but there are breaks that make it easy to jump right back into it when you have to put it down.
I’ll finish off with this though, I need a Kam in my life and I hope he is out there.
(I’m never running a half marathon though, I can tell you that right now)
Firstly, get yourself a box of tissues but also get ready to laugh and then seriously hate 99% of men.
I cannot express how emotional this book made me and I think I’m a pretty heartless reader. I may not have sobbed but I did tear up and I can’t remember the last book that had that effect. I’ve never personally experienced the same level of grief as the FMC (and know I don’t want to but ultimately might at some point in my life) but I related to her more than I thought I would.
I expected myself to not understand why she made the choices that she made but I almost always did and it definitely opened my eyes.
Nicole did amazing in labeling each new “boyfriend” as one of the stages of grief and I really enjoyed reading how some of them weren’t what they seemed.
You get a warning in the beginning that there are no chapters but more like sections that are broken up. They feel like long chapters, yes, but there are breaks that make it easy to jump right back into it when you have to put it down.
I’ll finish off with this though, I need a Kam in my life and I hope he is out there.
(I’m never running a half marathon though, I can tell you that right now)
July 18, 2025
This book was gorgeous 😍 the writing, the characters, the storyline… there wasn’t one thing I didn’t like about this book. The amount of tears I shed and times I laughed were far too many to count!
Maggie’s journey is a difficult one as she navigates her grief and different relationships while she is grieving the loss of her mother. She always has her best friends and her brother to count on while she navigates trying to count on herself again, but often feels like she is undeserving of them and begins to pull away… until they don’t let her anymore.
The beauty and strength that is Maggie’s grieving journey is relatable, beautiful, and inspiring. If you are looking for a book that is about love, friendship, grief, and healing then please read this book! This author does such a fabulous job of touching on all the parts of the grieving process and then some. ♥️
Maggie’s journey is a difficult one as she navigates her grief and different relationships while she is grieving the loss of her mother. She always has her best friends and her brother to count on while she navigates trying to count on herself again, but often feels like she is undeserving of them and begins to pull away… until they don’t let her anymore.
The beauty and strength that is Maggie’s grieving journey is relatable, beautiful, and inspiring. If you are looking for a book that is about love, friendship, grief, and healing then please read this book! This author does such a fabulous job of touching on all the parts of the grieving process and then some. ♥️
June 6, 2025
The way I wanted to shake Maggie and tell her to wake the heck up but also how I wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be okay 🥹 When I tell you I had every single emotion while reading this book I am not exaggerating. I’ve been waiting for this book for what feels like forever and the moment it hit my kindle I started it. I don’t normally read at 4am buuuuut like I said I’ve been waiting. The moment I started it I did get worried. I dislike 3rd person POV with a passion. I will DNF most books once I realize it’s told that way. I pushed through because I just had a feeling the story would be worth it. For the record, it was totally worth it! The one thing I did struggled with when it came to the 3rd person POV was the steamy scenes. I felt like I was peeping in on them and narrating it as I watched. I was super uncomfortable every time there was a steamy scene. The moment we met Kam I was fully invested. Every girl deserves a Kam in their life 🥹 the way he was there for Maggie and tried to make light of every situation. Unfortunately, we meet other men during her story and one of them had me raging. I would 100% catch a charge if he treated me the way he treated Maggie. The fact that there are men IRL acting like this POS had me seeing red. Even though some of those men weren’t worth her time I think they all taught her something about her life. Some more than others. The character growth in this book is a 10/10. Maggie really struggled with the loss of her mom and really lost herself in the process. Seeing her slowly find herself again was beautiful to read. What a great debut novel!
June 4, 2025
A journey worth taking
I never know what a book is about to do to me when I first crack the cover. This one was no different. However I was very unprepared for the journey it took me on that brought me face to face with my own struggle through depression, grief and finding myself. The writing is beautiful and the MMC and FMC are perfectly imperfect in the best way. 10 out of 10! 100% worth the read.
I never know what a book is about to do to me when I first crack the cover. This one was no different. However I was very unprepared for the journey it took me on that brought me face to face with my own struggle through depression, grief and finding myself. The writing is beautiful and the MMC and FMC are perfectly imperfect in the best way. 10 out of 10! 100% worth the read.
June 19, 2025
Just as good the second time around 🥹 An emotional, heartfelt debut romance perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Christina Lauren, and TJR. The characters are so thoroughly flushed out, they'll jump right off the page and cement their place in readers' hearts (or on their shit lists.... iykyk!) A grief story with coming-of-age energy and a love story woven throughout, everyone will find something they relate to in Maggie's messy, beautiful journey. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll laugh so hard you cry some more! truly cannot recommend this book enough 🥹
July 24, 2025
This book wrecked me in the best way. Watching Maggie fall apart and try to rebuild herself after her mom’s death felt so real. The way the author tied each situationship to a stage of grief was genius and painful. I could see parts of myself in every bad decision Maggie made, and I loved her even more for it. Kam and Maggie’s slow-burn tension was everything. This isn't just a love story; it's a healing story. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
April 27, 2025
This book wrecked me in the best way. It’s not your typical fluffy romance—it’s raw, real, and full of grief, but somehow still leaves you warm by the end.
If you’ve ever lost someone close, this one will hit deep. Keep tissues close.
If you’ve ever lost someone close, this one will hit deep. Keep tissues close.
January 3, 2026
I didn’t want to put this book down, I didn’t want this book to end. The writing makes you feel as if you are right there with the FMC. Excellent debut novel.
January 11, 2026
Sometimes I was extremely annoyed with Maggie as she was on her grief journey. She pushed away people who would have helped. Meanwhile putting a lot of energy in destructive relationships.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2025
5.0
Nicole did a tremendous job crafting the seven stages not only into crucial parts of the book, but also into the development of Maggie. It’s amazing to see it all fleshed out into a character when we often can’t see it in ourselves!
Nicole did a tremendous job crafting the seven stages not only into crucial parts of the book, but also into the development of Maggie. It’s amazing to see it all fleshed out into a character when we often can’t see it in ourselves!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews